How do I find legitimate castings on Backstage?

Backstage has great legitimate work and also attracts some bad actors (pun intended). Knowing what to look for separates the two fast.

Green flags:

• Posted by a verified production company or casting office — you'll see a verification mark.
• Clear pay rate, union status, and shoot dates.
• Professional breakdown language — specific role description, not "need actors for exciting project."
• Legitimate production name you can Google and find a prior credit, website, or IMDb page.
• SAG or AEA projects — if it's union-covered, there's a whole other layer of scrutiny.

Red flags:

• No pay listed or "deferred pay" on anything claiming to be a feature or series. Student films are a legit exception.
• "Casting director" asks you to pay for a photo session, class, or "audition prep" as part of the casting. This is never how real casting works. Report and move on.
• Nudity required for a role that otherwise seems mainstream. Legit productions handle intimacy coordination through agents and formal contracts, not casting notices.
• Personal phone number or personal email in the casting notice (rather than a company domain). Legit casting uses platform messaging.
• Urgency language — "must submit today," "exclusive offer," "limited spots."

When in doubt:

Ask the Reddit r/acting community. Legit-seeming scams get called out there fast, and experienced actors recognize repeat offenders.